Archery bow limb construction with or without built in limb dampeners

ABSTRACT

In the preferred embodiment original built in dampeners are created by cutting slits in the bow limbs and creating areas that will flex in the opposite direction of the limbs during and after the release of the arrow. This counter balancing motion will cancel vibration of the limb and bring the limb to a much faster stop.  
     The areas are also fitted with weights/absorbers made out of suitable materials in order to fine tune vibration absorption to a specific limb/bow. In another embodiment internal portions of the limb are completely removed so that it reduces the weight of the limb and gives it the look of a spit limb (limb comprised of two separate vertical parts joined by limb pocket and the cam pin) without sacrificing stability of the solid limb. The apertures formed in the limb can be also fitted with internal absorbers/dampeners made out of elastomer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority of Provisional Application No. 60/330,166 entitled Archery bow built in Limb dampeners and new limb construction. Filed on Oct. 18, 2001, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to limb design, vibration dampeners, and more specifically to archery bow dampeners for torque reduction of the bow limbs and damping and absorbing shocks and vibrations, in various parts of the bow. The invention also relates to bow limb designs that may or may not have built in vibration dampeners for archery bows that are used for hunting or target shooting.

BACKGROUND ART

[0003] When the arrow is released, intense vibration and shock is created due to the abrupt return of the limbs and the string of the archery bow to their original positions. It robs the arrow of energy and negatively effects the accuracy and speed. It effects the joints of the archer in an adverse way. It loosens up parts of the bow and it shortens the life of the bow.

[0004] A limb dampener for an archer's bow is employed for absorbing these vibrations, and also for reducing torque of the limbs. To overcome this problem, dampeners, which were developed for non-archery application, have been applied to archery bows for absorbing longitudinal vibrations. However, none have overcome adequately the problem of reducing torsional vibration of the limbs as well as the longitudinal vibrations. Also, the vibration mode is complicated; bow limbs tend to oscillate independently of each other resulting in a mixed vibrational mode of limbs twisting and bending simultaneously, thereby requiring multiple dampening devices.

[0005] One prior art device was designed for baseball bats, tennis rackets and other impact implements, which encompass a 360-degree arc and are normal to the longitudinal axis of the accessory. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,046Although this device dampens vibrations fairly well, it is not effective to work in the same plane as the limbs of the bow.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to dampen and absorb shocks and vibrations in limbs and other parts of the bow.

[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to control the torque of the limbs.

[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to reduce the weight of the limbs.

[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to utilize parts of the limbs as an integral dampener.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is the primary objective of this invention to provide a built in limb vibration dampener that can successfully deal with shock, vibration and torque problems that are occurring during and immediately after the release of the arrow.

[0011] Another important aspect of the invention is the fact that the limbs, in a few variations, can have significant weight reduction, without sacrificing stability of the limb. Also, removing material in particular areas of the limb creates an integral dampener.

[0012] For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and detailed description and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a side view of the bow limb (3) with a built in dampener (1) and elatstomeric weight/dampener (2).

[0014]FIG. 1A is a front view of the bow limb (3) with a built in dampener (1) and elatstomeric weight/dampener (2).

[0015]FIG. 2 is another embodiment of the same design.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a front view of another embodiment of the same design with a built in dampener (1) and elastomeric weight/dampener (2).

[0017]FIG. 3A is a side view of the bow limb (3) with a built in dampener (1) and elastomeric weight/dampener (2).

[0018]FIG. 4 is a front view of another embodiment of the limb (3) design. The middle portion of the limb is removed to form an opening or aperture (5). Sides are fitted with elastomeric edging (4).

[0019]FIG. 4A is the front view of the same limb (3) design but, with the aperture area (5) fitted with a elastomeric vibration dampener (2)

[0020]FIG. 4B is showing the side view of 4A.

[0021]FIG. 5 is showing a front view of a limb design with several apertures (5) formed in the middle of the bow limb and the top aperture is fitted with an elastomeric weight/dampener (2) in the shape of a loosely fit grommet.

[0022]FIG. 6 is a front view of another embodiment with a limb comprised of three independent members that are affixed together in the limb pocket (6).

[0023]FIG. 6A shows side view of FIG. 6 embodiment with a elastomeric dampener (2) attached.

[0024]FIG. 7 shows a variation of FIG. 6 embodiment with a middle member (8) of the limb attached by elastomeric profile (channel) (7).

[0025]FIG. 7A shows a side view of FIG. 7 embodiment. It does not have elastomeric weight/dampener (2) attached to it, although it could be fitted with such.

[0026]FIG. 7B shows a asymmetrical cross section view of FIG. 7 embodiment that illustrates how the middle member (8) of the limb is affixed inside the elastomeric channel (7) and how the whole assembly fits between two outside members of the limb.

[0027]FIG. 7C shows a cross section of the middle member (8) that is affixed inside the elastomeric channel (7).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028]FIG. 1 is a side view of the bow limb (3) with a built in dampener (1), formed by cutting a slit in the limb where the formed area is still attached to the limb, protruding forward. The elastomeric dampener (2) is attached to the formed area.

[0029]FIG. 1A is a front view of the bow limb (3) with a built in dampener (1), formed by cutting a slit in the limb where the formed area (1) is still attached to the limb (3). The elastomeric dampener (2) is attached to the formed area.

[0030]FIG. 2 is another embodiment of the same design. A front view of the bow limb (3) with a built in dampener (1), formed by cutting a slit in the limb where the formed area (1) is still attached to the limb (3). The elastomeric dampener (2) is attached to the formed area.

[0031]FIG. 3 is a front view of another embodiment of the same design. But, the vibration absorbing area (1) instead of being formed in the middle of the limb (3) is formed on the opposite sides of the limb (3). Dampener (1), formed by cutting a slits in the limb where the formed area (1) is still attached to the limb (3). The elastomeric dampener (2) is attached to the formed area.

[0032]FIG. 3A is the side view of the bow limb (3) with a built in dampener, formed by cutting slits in the limb (3) where the formed areas (1) is still attached to the limb (3), protruding forward. The elastomeric dampeners/weights (2) attached to the formed areas.

[0033]FIG. 4 is a front view of another embodiment of the limb (3) design. The middle portion of the limb is removed to form an opening or aperture (5). This contributes to a much lighter limb that resembles a split limb design, but without instability and torque of the split limb design. The side of the limb (3) is fitted with a torque control elastomeric profile edging (4) that also reduces vibration. It works on the same principal as the ShockFin™ Sight and Accessory Dampener by Global Resource Inc. When the limb is going forward, the mass of the elastomeric edging dampener is moving in the opposite direction and visa versa. This counter balancing motion will cancel vibration of the limb and bring the limb to a much faster stop.

[0034]FIG. 4A is the front view of the same limb (3) design but, with the aperture area (5) fitted with a elastomeric vibration dampener (2). The weight in the center of the dampener is suspended by the spring like folds around it. When the limb is going forward the mass of the dampener is moving in the opposite direction and visa versa. This counter balancing motion will cancel vibration of the limb and bring the limb to a much faster stop.

[0035]FIG. 4B is showing the side view of 4A.

[0036]FIG. 5 is showing a front view of a limb design with several apertures (5) formed in the middle of the bow limb (3). This contributes to a lighter limb, brings visual interest and also can be fitted with elastomeric dampeners. The dampener design could be based on the dampener (2) in FIG. 4A, or it could be designed as a loosely fitted grommet made out of elastomer (2).

[0037]FIG. 6 is a front view of another embodiment with a limb (3) comprised of three independent members that are affixed together in the limb pocket (6). The middle member (8) of the limb will flex in the opposite direction during and after the release of the arrow and this motion will cancel vibration of the limb and bring the limb to a faster stop. The member is fitted with a weight/dampener (2) made out of a suitable elastomeric material.

[0038]FIG. 6A shows side view of FIG. 6 embodiment with a elastomeric dampener (2) attached to the top of the middle member (8) of the limb (3). The middle member (8) is protruding forward and will go back during the release of the arrow while the two outside members will move forward. This counter balancing motion will cancel vibration of the members and bring the limb to a much faster stop.

[0039]FIG. 7 shows a variation of FIG. 6 embodiment with a middle member (8) of the limb (3) attached by elastomeric profile (channel) (7) rather than being affixed in the limb pocket with the two side members.

[0040]FIG. 7A shows a side view of FIG. 7 embodiment with the middle member (8) protruding forward. It does not have elastomeric weight attached to it, although it could be fitted with such.

[0041]FIG. 7B shows a asymmetrical cross section view of FIG. 7 embodiment that illustrates how the middle member (8) of the limb is affixed inside the elastomeric channel and how the whole assembly fits snugly in between two outside members of the limb.

[0042]FIG. 7C shows a cross section of the middle member (8) that is affixed inside the elastomeric channel (7). 

1. A dampening device which is an intrinsic part of the bow limb construction which, in the preferred embodiment is created by making slits in the bow limbs, which results in isolating the areas that will flex in the opposite direction during and after the release of the arrow.
 2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said device further comprises an isolated area (s) formed by making a slit (s) in the limb where the formed area is still attached to the limb.
 3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said device further comprises an isolated area (s) formed by making a slit (s) in the limb where the formed area is still attached to the limb with an elastomeric dampener affixed to the formed area.
 4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said device further comprises an isolated area (s) formed by making a slit (s) in the limbs or forming it independently where the formed area is attached to the limbs of the bow, by the limb pocket.
 5. The device as recited in claim 4, wherein said device further comprises an isolated area (s) formed by making a slit (s) in the limbs, or forming it independently, where the formed area is attached to the limbs of the bow, by means of elastomeric profile/channel.
 6. The device as recited in claim 4, wherein said device further comprises an isolated area (s) Completely removed out of limbs and forming apertures.
 7. The device as recited in claim 4, wherein said device further comprises an isolated area (s) completely removed out of limbs and forming apertures. Those apertures could be fit with the vibration dampeners/weights made out of suitable elastomeric materials in the shape of loosely fit grommets or concentric spring like weighted membranes
 8. An archery bow dampening device, said device comprising: counter-balance means for offsetting the amplitude of the longitudinal and torsional vibrational forces caused by the release of the archery arrow; and energy absorbing means for absorbing the energy of the vibratory oscillations through expansion and contraction of said energy absorbing means, said energy absorbing means being juxtapose to said counter-balance means, whereby said counterbalance means oscillates at a natural frequency out of phase of the natural frequency of the limbs, parts of the limb, of the archery bow until said energy absorbing means negating the energy stimulated by the release of the archery arrow, thereby accelerating the decay of the vibration amplitude. 